Okay, we are going camping for this Labor Day weekend and the campground where we're going borders a fairly large river so I figured i could get some bank fishing in while we're there. What kind of a setup would i need to bring? What kind of baits would you use? I don't have any idea the flow rate right now (sluggish or fast). I have never really fished rivers so any info would be greatly appreciated. As for what's in there, it's a mixed bag of bass (both kinds), pike, trout (Rainbow and Brown), bowfin, perch and panfish are all possible.

Rage Tail Menace and Baby Lobster, T-rigged

1/8 oz jig with a slip-bobber (3-4')

 

Cast upstream and retrieve when the bait comes back to you.

DO NOT fish downstream.

 

Road warrior could you elaborate a little bit about why not to fish downstream? I fish a river a good bit and usually tend to cast downstream.  Not that it's the right way to do it. Just something I tend to do. 

3 minutes ago, Shane Y said:

Road warrior could you elaborate a little bit about why not to fish upstream? I fish a river a good bit and usually tend to cast downstream.  Not that it's the right way to do it. Just something I tend to do. 

@roadwarrior

I wrote do not fish "downstream".  First of all, river fish generally position themselves facing upstream

to catch prey. Secondly, you will tend to get hung-up more often.  

Whoops. I corrected my mistake.  I was just curious.  Sounds like good reasoning though. 

Long time lurker... I'll introduce myself later. Probably not the best first post as it's dissenting but have to 100% disagree about not fishing "downstream".

 

While it's true fish generally position themselves facing upstream they also roam depending on current flow and you can easily and naturally present your offering by quarter casting downstream much in the same way fly fisherman drift a fly. While the mechanics are different the process is the same. I've done this with plastic, swim jigs, jerkbaits, squarebills etc.

 

I'd also "argue" you can just as easily get hung up fishing upstream bringing your lure downstream with the current. You have less control and it's easier for the current to swing your jig/lure under a rock or into a snag.

 

I'm not saying fishing "downstream" is better, just that it is a viable and potentially productive option. Let the river conditions and fish activity dictate if you fish upstream or downstream.

Rat-L-Trap. 

Chrome w/ black back

 

Chrome w/ blue back

 

Gold w/ black back

1/4 oz. Mini Trap. 

7 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

I wrote do not fish "downstream".  First of all, river fish generally position themselves facing upstream

to catch prey. Secondly, you will tend to get hung-up more often.  

 

Agreed but you can catch them fishing downstream as well. If SM are in the area cast a 3.5" tube or creature bait and work it like a crayfish would be trying to swim with the current. Flukes are the same way just a different prey so just think of how the bait would be trying to swim through the current. Fish would wear themselves out swimming against the current 24/7 so the position themselves behing anything that breaks the current and ambush prey that comes by.

 

Allen

without knowing the river, conditions and access, it's hard to say. I'd bring a few of your favorite plastics and hard baits.

I called a local tackle shop in the area and unfortunately that far up the river where we'll be there is only trout...rainbow, brown and brookie's :(.

 

I love river smallmouth fishing! I've had plenty of success fishing up and down stream, although I agree with "roadwarrior" and say upstream is a little better. Most of the time I cast upstream and work my life downstream with the current.

As for lures, Rapala X-Raps, Strike Kind Bitsy Tubes, Ned rigs get most use for me. I also use Bandit Footloose cranks and either Strike King Bitsy Jigs or Z-Man TRD Jigs from time to time.

 

 

Sorry for the edit, just saw your last post. For trout, get some 2 or 4 pound test and a ultra light or light rod and a hand full of Rooster Tails, Joe's Flies, Mepp's, etc and have some fun!

9 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

I called a local tackle shop in the area and unfortunately that far up the river where we'll be there is only trout...rainbow, brown and brookie's :(.

 

Should still be fun. Even if they were stocked fish by this time of year they will be gamey and you'll have to work for them. Do some ultra lite finesse fishing. Might be a pleasant break from bass fishing. 

13 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

I called a local tackle shop in the area and unfortunately that far up the river where we'll be there is only trout...rainbow, brown and brookie's :(.

 

Aw, come on, don’t let that stop you from fishing, lol. If you have a med light powered rod, get some spoons, spinners and even floating rapalas. Bring some drop shot gear too. Many “bass” lures will catch trout too.

Night crawlers rigged drop shot, Carolina rigged or with a float will not only catch trout, but other fish too. 

 

If allowed, those funny artificial baits like power bait dough and eggs will nail them too and with a simple Carolina rig. 

 

If you ask me, rainbow trout fight better than lmbs pound for pound anyway, and dare I say this as a bass angler. And I hear browns and brookies fight even better than rainbows. Hope you hook into a steelhead class rainbow. I guarantee you won’t remain bummed out. You’ll be holding on for dear life, lol.  ?

14 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

I called a local tackle shop in the area and unfortunately that far up the river where we'll be there is only trout...rainbow, brown and brookie's :(.

 

A good rainbow or brown will give you every bit the fight a bass will or more. Float fish the seams with a Trout Magnet or wollybugger

On 8/30/2018 at 12:19 PM, roadwarrior said:

I wrote do not fish "downstream".  First of all, river fish generally position themselves facing upstream

to catch prey. Secondly, you will tend to get hung-up more often.  

Uh, never heard of swinging lures?  Quartering cast, and let the current pick up the bait.  Only reel in enough to take up slack, and let the current do the rest.  The bait will swing right in their faces.  The strikes are violent.

16 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

I called a local tackle shop in the area and unfortunately that far up the river where we'll be there is only trout...rainbow, brown and brookie's :(.

 

Brown trout, huh?  Sounds like an awful time.

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Brown trout, huh?  Sounds like an awful time.



WOW!!! 

If the river is wadeable I suggest taking one rod and reel and fish a lot of it . . Some of the lures I take for wading smallmouth rivers are buzzbaits , poppers , spinnerbaits , texas rigged craws , tubes , hula grubs... jigs

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Uh, never heard of swinging lures?  Quartering cast, and let the current pick up the bait.  Only reel in enough to take up slack, and let the current do the rest.  The bait will swing right in their faces.  The strikes are violent.

Brown trout, huh?  Sounds like an awful time.

 

Got my share of trout in the Catskills. They are smart and wiley and all that...

Chum with ants or crickets and they get dumb in a hurry.

"mojo rigging" (cause bass guys need a name for everything) a #5 or #7 original rapala (and casting upstream) usually caught size. Spinners will catch trout for sure, but there are so many other lures that will. small crankbaits are my favorite.

Spoons, man, spoons.  Love a spoon bite!

mans baby minus

Kvd shads

keil weighted or weightless flukes 

And chrome super spot

Consider first the type of river you are fishing; is this a shallow stream like system ? or is it a big river system with creek arms and a network of backwater areas ? Without knowing the river system though, I think the one lure I would have ready in September and October no matter the river, is a Zara or Sammy for fishing Bass in current breaks and adjacent slack water during the morning and evening. 

9 hours ago, J Francho said:

Spoons, man, spoons.  Love a spoon bite!

I agree 100%. Spoon bites are vicious!  Also, a tossed spinner propelled via the current fished how you described (vs chuck and wind) have also yielded strikes  just as vicious. 

 

Brettsdaddy better hold on for dear life if he hooks into one like that, lol.